Sermons
God's Redeeming Love - Hosea 2-3
Series: Hosea
Hosea: God’s Love Story
Chapters 2-3: God’s Redeeming Love
Introduction
1. Hosea is the last prophet to claim to preach to the northern nation of Israel before Assyrian captivity. (750-725 B.C.)
2. God commands Hosea to marry a woman who he knows will be unfaithful. She has 3 children whose names mean: 1) God scatters, 2) no mercy, & 3) not my people.
3. Hosea’s example shows not only how much sin hurts us, but how much it hurts God.
4. Through Hosea, we learn about God’s character; His pain, persistence, and perfection.
I. Israel’s Unfaithfulness Punished – 2:2-13
A. God decrees divorce – v2-4.
1. Statement of divorce (2)
2. She exposed herself to lovers, God will expose her to elements. All good is taken. (3)
3. No mercy on her children (4)
B. The great betrayal – v5-8
1. She credits her lovers with giving her gifts. (5)
2. God blesses her with failure so she would return to Him. (6-7)
3. Reality: It was God who was giving her the good gifts (8)
C. The hard lesson – v9-13
1. God will take it all away.
2. Not just the grain (temporary setback), but the vines and figs (takes years to grow)
3. God is heartbroken. (13)
D. Application
1. This is my story.
a. How does God feel when I credit luck or my own hands for His blessings?
b. How does God feel when I use His blessings for evil?
2. How would I feel if my spouse was content to live with me 95% of the time?
3. Forgetting God leads to spiritual demise. – Romans 1.21
4. How would I treat someone who has treated me so poorly?
II. God Pleads for Israel’s Love – 2:14-23
A. God’s Persuading Call – v14-15
1. “I will” 12-14x in verses 14-23. This is God acting in mercy.
2. Leads her into the wilderness – a new Exodus, a reset freedom from bondage.
3. The Valley of Achor – place where Achan was stoned to death. – Joshua 7
a. A place where evil was eradicated from the camp
b. Brings a hope for the future.
B. The new relationship – v16-20
1. “Ishi” (my husband), no longer “Baali” (my master) (16-17)
a. God’s relationship will change to be even greater than before.
b. The false God’s will be forgotten because of how great God is.
2. There will be rest (18)
3. This relationship will last forever (19-20)
a. A new betrothal, not a patched-up broken relationship.
b. “You will know the LORD” – greatest of blessings.
C. God reverses the names of Hosea’s children from chapter 1 (21-23)
D. Application
1. God offers a new marriage-like covenant through Jesus. – Eph 5.32
2. When God forgives, He forgives completely and immediately.
3. Forgiven sin is a reason to love God more. – Luke 7.40-44
III. Hosea Redeems His Wife – 3:1-5
A. Verse 1:
1. As God had divorced Israel in 2:2, Hosea had put away Gomer.
2. Hosea is commanded to take her back even though she is an adulteress.
3. Raisin cakes? (possibly linked to idol worship or illustrating her fickle affections)
B. Verse 2:
1. Hosea had to purchase her back as a slave
2. 15 shekels is half-price of a normal slave (she is of little value to others)
3. Jesus redeems us while we were helpless. – Romans 5.6-8
C. Verses 3-4:
1. God gives Israel a trial waiting period.
2. No kings of the line of David after Zedekiah.
D. Verse 5:
1. All will be united under one King, the son of David.
2. All people will be brought to God and can once again have a full marriage covenant.
Discussion Questions
1. What benefit is there from studying Old Testament prophets?
2. What is something about Hosea 2 that stands out to you?
3. What I something about Hosea 3 that stands out to you?
